Man Creates Model Community

Zumra Nuru, a 60-year-old Ethiopian farmer founded Awra Amba, a commune where men and women's traditional roles and religion have no place. As a child he was sent to work the fields instead of to school and beaten for eating meat at his Christian neighbor's home. His mother labored more than his father. He was belittled for questioning these practices.

Implications - Innovative community-living models are popping up all around the world in order to actively resist the norms, customs and roles that have been in place for hundreds of years. This reflects the increasing individualization of society and people's desires to work together and collaborate for a more participatory society in the future.